IPC awards recognize today’s professional photographers and future innovators

The International Photographic Council (IPC) held its annual Professional Photographer Achievement Awards luncheon May 6, 2026, at the United Nations. The annual event recognizes the achievements of leading professional photographers and recognizes up-and-coming photographers. The IPC also awards scholarships to students at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the School of Visual Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and NYC/Tisch.

The group presented its IPC Distinguished Service Award to Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations. The keynote speaker was Peter Hurley, the renowned portrait photographer, author, speaker, and coach.

Celebrity headshot photographer Hurley reflected on the enduring emotional power of photography, comparing the excitement of modern portrait work to the classic darkroom experience of watching an image slowly appear in developer chemicals. “That’s the dopamine hit,” he says, describing the thrill photographers still chase today. Despite spending the last 25 years photographing people “three feet in front of me at 92 mm and I love it,” Hurley said the excitement has never faded. He recalls becoming so energized during a magazine cover shoot that he nearly passed out afterward from adrenaline.

A defining moment came when Alex Rodriguez reviewed images on Hurley’s tethered computer and told him, “Nobody ever spoke to me like that. Nobody ever directed me like that.” The exchange reinforced Hurley’s belief that portrait photography is really about coaching people and helping them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Self-taught through years of “trial and error,” Hurley shares practical posing advice—especially his famous emphasis on creating a strong jawline, a technique that inspired his viral “shebang” catchphrase. More importantly, he says his purpose is “to make people feel better about themselves from being in front of a camera, period.” Hurley argues that photographers carry a larger responsibility beyond creating flattering images. In a world increasingly shaped by AI imagery, he insists, “AI is not capturing history. You guys have to do it.”

IPC Professional Photographer Awards

The IPC Professional Photographer Awards were presented to Justin Black, an American photographer, educator, and conservation advocate, nominated by Fujifilm; Nancy Borowick, an internationally renowned photographer, author, teacher and speaker, nominated by Sony; Jabin Botsford, a Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist and visual storyteller documenting power, politics, and the defining moments of contemporary America, nominted by Tiffen; Douglas Dubler III is a fashion and beauty photographer, nominagted by Zeiss; Ben Shirk, an internationally award-winning photographer known for his bold, cinematic portraiture and powerful visual storytelling, nominated by PPA; and Tal Shpantzer, who has been extensively exhibited, collected, and reviewed in her career spanning several decades and continents, nominated by APA.

IPC Rising Star Award

The IPC Rising Star Award was presented to Jarrett Esaw, a photographer born and raised in New York City. His work is rooted in street photography while naturally extending across a range of photographic genres. Esaw was nominated by Fujifilm.

James L. Chung Memorial Scholarships

The recipients of James L. Chung Memorial Scholarships were Brody Xavier Carlson, RIT; Julia Knoll, School of Visual Arts; Isahel Reynoa, FIT; and Julia Smerling, NYU/Tisch.

IPC photo gallery